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About

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering was established in 1891 and has grown over its 130-year history to become the second-largest department in the university, with over 1,000 students pursuing mechanical engineering degrees. A new degree program in Aerospace Engineering was started in 2022.

98 Graduate students

1,013 Undergraduates

$70K ME Average starting salary

NACE Summer 2023

Explore Graduate offerings

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers programs of study leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering. Graduate students will have the opportunity to work closely with internationally recognized faculty members on research at the leading edge of technology

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Explore our undergraduate programs

We are proud to offer the only undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering in the state of Kentucky! Mechanical engineers apply their expertise to the design, development and mass production of everything from rocket propulsion systems to appliances.

Learn more and explore all our undergraduate offerings!

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People

With over 30 full-time faculty members dedicated to teaching and research, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering supports research in numerous relevant fields. We advance aerospace research and often work with NASA on research methods for its future missions. Mechanical and aerospace engineering is a diverse discipline, and our robust faculty is engaged in every aspect of it.

View our People

31 Full-time faculty members

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Enhancement Fund

Support the Fund

Gifts to the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Enhancement Fund can supplement existing operating budgets or provide revenue that can be directed toward emerging needs and opportunities such as scholarships, faculty support, facility enhancement and unrestricted support for departments. This valuable support allows the college to be flexible and responsive and demonstrate the truth that there is power in numbers.

 

Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing

The Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing pioneers new manufacturing standards that respect the planet’s resources.

Visit ISM

Institute of Research for Technological Development

Our Institute of Research for Technological Development (IR4TD) explores fire research, painting technology research, lean manufacturing systems and more.

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NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and EPSCoR Programs

NASA Kentucky

In partnership with NASA’s National Space Grant College & Fellowship Program, the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium provides opportunities in aerospace-related research and education for Kentucky colleges, universities, community colleges, non-profits, and industry affiliates. More information available at NASA Kentucky Space Grant.

Contact NASA KY

Dr. Alexandre Martin, Director

Phone: 859-218-NASA (218-6272)
E-mail: nasa@uky.edu

Associate Director:
Jacob Owen   859-323-4542

Visit the NASA KY website

MAE Department News

Renfro named interim dean of the Pigman College of Engineering

Michael Renfro, Ph.D., will serve as interim dean of the Pigman College of Engineering, effective June 1. Renfro joined UK in 2015 as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and served as chair of the department until 2023. He currently serves as the associate dean for faculty affairs and facilities.

From Kentucky to deep space: UK research supports Artemis II return, future exploration

When NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts on a path around the moon — farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in decades — the world watched in awe. Yet, one of the most critical parts of the journey remained invisible. For a team of faculty, staff and students in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at University of Kentucky, that unseen work is their expertise.

Spring 2026 Dean's List includes 1,085 Pigman College of Engineering students

The Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering is proud to announce 1,085 engineering and computer science students included on the University of Kentucky Spring 2026 Dean's List.  Students are eligible for the Dean’s List by meeting these requirements during the fall or spring semester:

Mechanical engineering student selected 2026 Sustainability Summer Research Fellow

Sophomore Mwajuma Alexandre is one of six University of Kentucky undergraduates selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship, a program that supports student-led projects that advance sustainable practices and community impact through research.

Seven Pigman College of Engineering students, alumni earn NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Seven of the twelve University of Kentucky students and recent graduates that were awarded 2026 U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships were from the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the country’s oldest graduate fellowship program directly supporting graduate students, recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.

2026 Pigman College of Engineering Faculty Awards

On April 30, the Pigman College of Engineering gathered at the Manchester Fountain Hall to honor its 2026 Faculty Awards recipients for their outstanding contributions to the college and beyond. Awards were given in the areas of research, service and education. This year, in addition to individual research awards, the college added a new award category to honor the work of a research team. The winners in each area are listed below.